Can you ever come off of thyroid meds?

[Sunshine_67]

I'm really thinking I should have never been put on thyroid meds to begin with, at least before my female hormones and adrenals were fixed, but now that I've been on them for 4 years, I don't think I can come off of them. Before I was on thyroid meds I was tired a lot and had other mild hypo symptoms, but I could still function. I could socialize with friends, stay up past 10:00, exercise. Since I started on thyroid meds my health has gone downhill. My TSH at the time I started was 3.6 and my FT4 was 1.01, so I was hypo, but I also had very low female hormones (some were in the negatives they were so low). So if the thyroid meds are what's causing the problem, what can I do?

[LazyMoose]

And the place for such unproven ideas is the Alternative Therapies or possibly Complimentary Medicine.

I do not fully doubt that such ideas could possibly help a little, but to be the equivalent of thyroid replacement when you don't know someones thyroid history is a long stretch.

If you personally have hypothyroid, or Hashimoto ( with a physically damaged thyroid from antibodies), and were able to go off thyroid replacement with no return of symptoms, and you were blessed with proper T3 / T4 levels that support a positive, healthy thyroid, then by all means please let the world know.

[gimel]

Med Help is certainly meant to share ideas.  But they should be ideas that have scientific support.  I don't think we should be suggesting to a patient that "Yes you can come off Thyroid medicine, with some natural activity.", unless there is undisputed proof of that.  Otherwise we are giving bad advice that may cause the patient discomfort or even harm.  Why don't you just withhold such ideas until you have the research data that clearly shows it to be valid.  

[hava]

Thank you for your ideas on what can happen(there is a big IF in it). It is good to help someone overcome their health problem in different ways.People can think and decide for themselves, when a choices are offered.Basically people can follow the simple methods described, and notice the difference in health.Research is in progress. I do not wish to divert the thread, but need to acknowledge. MH is to share ideas.
December 15 ,2011

[Sunshine_67]

Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, LH, FSH and growth hormones have all been low. I don't have diabetes, I've been tested. I am hypoglycemic though. Since hypothalamus disorders cause TSH to be suppressed it always freaks docs out when they see my labs. They always think I'm hyper when I'm not.

[Barb135]

If you have hypopituitarism, are you lacking in hormones, other than thyroid hormones?  If so, which ones.  

"I just feel more tired, weak and lethargic and also more thirsty".  These can be symptoms of diabetes; have you been tested for that?  Type I (also called juvenile or insulin dependent) diabetes is an autoimmune disease and while it, most often, manifests in children/teenagers, it can also show up later.  I have a sister diagnosed with it, in her 70's.  

While it's wonderful that your doctor is willing to treat by symptoms, you also need periodic blood work to make sure you're on the right track. Sounds like you really need to get some current labs, so you can see where you're at.  

[Sunshine_67]

I haven't had labs done in several months. My current doc has been dosing based on symptoms. I do have Hashi's and also hypopituitarism and I think my hypothalamus is also not working.

I do feel more hypo when my dose is lowered, but since I've increased my dose, I feel even worse. I"m not hyper. I don't feel shakey or anxious and my heart isn't beating fast. I just feel more tired, weak and lethargic and also more thirsty. I read the hypothalamus controls the kidneys and I've been told I have some kidney issues. So I wonder if taking more thyroid meds without addressing the hypothalamus or pituitary has made things worse.

[LazyMoose]

You seem to like commenting with the same cure all for many heath issues on MH these days. Your advice could cause someone more harm than good.

It would be interesting to see documented proof that pinching some skin on your hand followed by certain breathing rhythm can cure so many health disorders. Don't we all wish it was that simple.

If someone was to follow your advice on Sunshine_67's other post and stopped taking thyroid replacement med, in time, they could be hospitalized.

[hava]

Yes you can come off Thyroid medicine, with some natural activity. I have posted to your other discussion.
December 11, 2011

[goolarra]

Please post your current thyroid labs along with reference ranges (vary lab to lab).

Also, which meds do you take and what's your current dose?

Have you ever been diagnosed with Hashi's?

My guess, without any of the answers to my questions above, is that you are probably undermedicated or on the wrong combination of meds.  It sounds like you still have a lot of lingering hypo symptoms.

Another thought:  If your original symptoms four years ago had only to do with females hormones and adrenals, it would seem that once those were resolved, your thyroid and/or conversion would have kicked back in, which doesn't seem to have been the case.

That being said, it is possible to get off meds once you start.  It's usually advisable to wean off to give your thyroid time to readjust and ramp up production of hormones.  Also, it you cut back a small amount and your labs get worse or you start getting more or worse hypo symptoms, it's a pretty good indication that you do need the meds.  You can avoid the worst of the symptoms by moving slowly.

Have you discussed this with your doctor?